GOOD NEWS: Penn State RB Ankle and Return.
Saquon Barkley, a Penn State running back, suffered a right ankle injury in the regular-season finale versus Michigan State and did not return. His official playing status in the Big Ten Championship Game versus Wisconsin has yet to be confirmed.
Barkley twisted his ankle on a second-half carry as the Nittany Lions looked to seal the Big Ten East title. According to Yahoo Sports’ Dr. Saturday, the school quickly ruled him out.
Barkley departed Penn State’s Week 3 win over Temple momentarily due to a small calf strain, but the issue didn’t keep him out of action for long.
The sophomore has been a revelation for the Nittany Lions since his debut in 2015, and his output has been a big reason for Penn State’s resurgence after a half-decade of disappointment.
Barkley has 228 carries for 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016.
If Barkley is absent, Miles Sanders will be called upon to fill in.
Unfortunately, being sidelined is not new for Barkley. Following a good rookie season, he missed three games in 2019 due to a sprained right ankle. He missed 14 games in 2020 after damaging his ACL. In 2021, he missed four games due to a sprained left ankle.
Barkley’s summer standoff was predicated on his injury history and the present state of the running back market. Barkley was not pleased when New York put him on the franchise tag. He briefly threatened not to play this season.
But the two-time Pro Bowl running back eventually agreed to a new one-year contract worth $11 million, including a $2 million incentive, in July.
If Barkley misses only three games, he will be available for New York’s primetime game against the Buffalo Bills on October 15.
Schefter said that Barkley experienced a “ordinary” sprain. Barkley smacked his helmet in fury on the sideline, and the injury seemed to be worse.
Barkley and the Giants were on the verge of a comeback victory when the running back fell down. The former Penn State standout scored two touchdowns.
Leave a Reply